Fire Breaks Out at Apgujeong Apartment; Chinese Robot Vacuum Suspected as Cause

[Anchor]

A fire broke out at the Hanyang Apartment complex in Apgujeong, Seoul, forcing about 20 residents to evacuate in an emergency. Police and fire authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze based on statements that the fire suddenly started from a Chinese-made robot vacuum cleaner.

Yoo Soo-Hwan reports.

[Reporter]

Flames and smoke pour incessantly from the apartment window.

Debris flies out from the window along with the smoke.

The fire occurred around 10:30 a.m. yesterday (July 21) at the Hanyang Apartment in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Due to the fire, about 20 residents were urgently evacuated to a nearby senior center. A woman in her 70s complained of dizziness after inhaling smoke, but it is reported that her life is not in danger.

Fire authorities deployed 36 vehicles and 133 personnel, bringing the major flames under control within 20 minutes of the report and fully extinguishing the fire at 12:04 p.m.

Three apartment residents were also rescued by firefighters.

[Apartment Security Guard: I made all the reports. A foreign housekeeper came running down crying. I ran up. There was a bang, and black smoke billowed out from the main bedroom. It was so thick with smoke that it wasn't at a stage where a fire extinguisher could be used.]

It is reported that the housekeeper was alone in the apartment when the fire started.

Police and fire authorities have reportedly secured a statement saying that sparks suddenly flew from a Chinese-made robot vacuum cleaner, but they explained that they cannot yet conclude the exact point of origin or the cause of the fire.

[Gangnam Fire Station Fire Investigator: There is a robot vacuum cleaner (inside the home). (The cause of the fire) needs to be investigated.]

[Apartment Resident: They were carrying it (the robot vacuum) away earlier. It looked like the police were taking the robot vacuum.]

Fire authorities plan to determine the exact cause of the fire through on-site forensics, keeping in mind the possibility that the fire was caused by electrical factors in the home appliance.

(Video coverage: Bae Moon-san, Video editing: Kim Yoon-sung, Footage provided by: Seoul Gangnam Fire Station)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.